Segmented switched reluctance motor for powertrain electrification

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a transmission system having a transmission subsystem, a transmission housing for housing the transmission subsystem, and a rotor operably associated with the transmission subsystem. The rotor has a weight and dimension to act as a flywheel. At least one stator pole segment is housed within the transmission housing and has at least one stator winding thereon positioned in proximity to a surface of the rotor. An inverter communicates with the stator winding and electrically energizes the winding to cause rotation of the rotor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transmission system for use with an internal combustion engine, the transmission system comprising:
 a transmission subsystem; 
 a transmission housing for housing the transmission subsystem; 
 a rotor operably associated with the transmission subsystem and with a crankshaft of the engine, and supported for rotation within the transmission housing, and being of a weight and dimension to act as a flywheel for the engine; 
 at least two stator pole segments, each of the stator pole segments having at least one stator winding thereon, and the stator pole segments being circumferentially spaced apart from one another and secured to the transmission housing in a manner so that a portion of each said stator pole segment is in proximity to a surface of the rotor, and such that the stator pole segments are positioned radially outwardly of a radially outermost portion of the rotor; 
 an inverter in electrical communication with the stator winding of each of the stator pole segments, and configured to selectively, electrically energize the independent stator pole segments to cause rotation of the rotor. 
 
     
     
       2. The transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein the system includes at least three independent stator pole segments spaced equidistantly circumferentially from one another. 
     
     
       3. The transmission system of  claim 1 , further comprising a torque converter. 
     
     
       4. The transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein the stator pole segment protrudes partially outwardly from an exterior surface of the transmission housing. 
     
     
       5. The transmission of  claim 1 , further including an engine operably coupled to the transmission subsystem to form a hybrid powertrain. 
     
     
       6. The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a ring gear. 
     
     
       7. The transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotor position sensor disposed adjacent the periphery of the rotor for detecting an angular position of the rotor and communicating an angular position signal to the inverter. 
     
     
       8. A transmission system for use with an internal combustion engine, the transmission system comprising:
 a transmission subsystem; 
 a transmission housing having at least two openings; 
 a rotor operably coupled to the transmission subsystem and supported for rotation within the transmission housing, and being of a weight and dimension to act as a flywheel for the internal combustion engine; and 
 a plurality of at least two independent stator pole segments mounted within the plurality of openings, each said independent stator pole segment having at least one stator winding thereon, and each being spaced generally equidistantly circumferentially apart from one another, and secured to the transmission housing in a manner to be positioned radially outward of a radially outermost portion of the rotor, and so that a portion of each said stator pole segment is in proximity to the radially outermost portion of the rotor; and 
 the independent stator pole segments collectively forming a switched reluctance motor configured to at least one of power an engine or to crank the engine, wherein the engine is coupled to the transmission subsystem. 
 
     
     
       9. The transmission of  claim 8 , further comprising an inverter in electrical communication with each said stator winding of the independent stator pole segments, and being configured to electrically energize the stator windings to cause rotation of the rotor. 
     
     
       10. The transmission of  claim 8 , wherein three of said independent stator pole segments are mounted within three of the openings in the transmission housing, and spaced equidistantly circumferentially apart. 
     
     
       11. The transmission of  claim 8 , further comprising a torque converter operably coupled to the transmission subsystem. 
     
     
       12. The transmission of  claim 9 , further comprising a rotor position sensor positioned adjacent to the rotor for detecting an angular rotational position of the rotor and providing a real time electrical angular position signal to the inverter. 
     
     
       13. The transmission of  claim 12 , wherein the rotor position sensor is mounted within an additional opening in the transmission housing. 
     
     
       14. The transmission of  claim 8 , further comprising a ring gear coupled to an outer periphery of the rotor. 
     
     
       15. The transmission of  claim 8 , wherein the independent stator pole segments, the rotor and the inverter cooperatively form a switched reluctance motor.